The Airstrait works differently than any other straightener because it doesn’t rely on hot plates to smooth hair. Instead, the tool uses the powerful airflow that Dyson is known for to dry and straighten hair without heat damage. In fact, the highest temperature you can set the Airstrait to is 285°F, which is much lower than most hot tools.
“Having a strong understanding of how to manipulate and realize the potential of powerful airflow is fundamental to the performance of the Dyson Airstrait straightener,” James Dyson, the company’s founder and chief engineer, shared in a press release. “This expertise, which we’ve gained over the last 25 years, is what has enabled us to deliver our first wet-to-dry straightener with no hot plates and no extreme heat damage. Delivering the ease-of-use that people love about straighteners but with high-velocity air blades, saves time, maintains hair strength, and achieves an everyday natural straight style.”
While the tool looks like your average straightener, it has a few cool functions. You can clamp it dry and use it as a hair dryer to rough-dry your hair and scalp. You can also choose from three different settings—wet, dry, or cool—to style your hair. When in the “wet” mode, you can choose from 175°F, 230°F, and 285°F (the thicker and curlier your hair is, the higher you’ll likely want to go temperature-wise). On the “dry” setting, you can choose 250°F or 285°F or a “boost.” You can also control airflow. As a safety precaution, the machine automatically turns off when set down.
I decided to test the Airstrait on myself to see just how easy it is to use. I have extremely thick, wavy hair that typically takes 20 to 30 minutes to dry. If I add straightening into the mix, I’m looking at at least an hour in front of the mirror.